Cylinder block baffle for separating oil from crankcase gasses

An apparatus comprising:

• an oil separator having a front baffle and a rear baffle that are adapted to be mounted in an oil gallery of an internal combustion engine, wherein each of the front and rear baffles include a lower section, an upper section and a bridging section, wherein the bridging section connects the upper section of the front baffle to the upper section of the rear baffle, wherein the lower section of the front baffle and the lower section of the rear baffle extend below the upper section of the front baffle and the upper section of the rear baffle, respectively, wherein—
• the lower sections of each of the front and rear baffles each include a bottom wall extending in a horizontal plane in the lateral and longitudinal directions to be oriented across a flow path of crankcase gasses vertically through a top opening in the lower section, wherein the lower section defines side openings extending vertically above the bottom walls and laterally between first and second sides of the oil gallery, wherein the crankcase gases flow through the side entry windows and vertically up through the top opening, and
• the upper sections of the front and rear baffles each include front and rear walls that are disposed in a vertical plane and a transverse lateral plane, wherein a plurality of right side ribs extend between the front and rear walls on a right side of the oil gallery, wherein left side gas flow openings are defined by a distal end of the ribs and the left side of the oil gallery, wherein a plurality of left side ribs extend on a left side of the oil gallery, wherein right side gas flow openings are defined by a distal end of the ribs and the left side of the oil gallery, wherein crankcase gasses flow around a left side of the right side ribs and a right side of the left side ribs in a repeating pattern to separate oil particles from the crankcase gasses wherein the crankcase gases flow through the side entry windows and vertically up through the top opening, and wherein one of either the right side ribs or the left side ribs is disposed immediately above the top opening to return the oil particles through the top opening and back into the lower section.

An apparatus comprising:

• an internal combustion engine including a crankcase, a cylinder block, a cylinder head that defines an oil gallery;
• and
• a baffle assembled into the oil gallery, the baffle having a bottom wall facing the crankcase and right and left side walls extending above the bottom wall, wherein the bottom wall and the right and left side walls define at least two side openings, the baffle also includes a front wall and a rear wall that each define a top opening above the side openings and wherein the front and rear walls extend vertically above the side openings, the front wall and the rear wall each support a plurality of ribs that extend between the front and rear walls, wherein the plurality of ribs include right side ribs that define a plurality of left side openings between a first distal end of the right side ribs and a left side wall of the oil gallery, left side ribs that define a plurality of right side openings between a second distal end of the left side ribs and a right side wall of the oil gallery that form a gas flow path for crankcase gasses, wherein the gas flow path flows around a right side of left side ribs and a left side of a vertically adjacent right side ribs to separate oil particles from the crankcase gasses, and wherein one of either the right side ribs or the left side ribs is disposed immediately above the top opening to return the oil particles through the top opening and back into the lower section.